Stoke and Wigan were the last two visitors to Stamford Bridge, conceding seven and eight goals respectivly.

Albion fared slightly better. But only just.

By the time Didier Drogba had scored Chelsea’s fifth, the home side had racked up their 18th goal in just under 250 minutes of football in West London.

The sixth goal came from Florent Malouda in the final moments.

The Baggies fell behind when Scott Carson’s mistake presented Malouda with an early gift.

Albion held on and enjoyed decent periods of possession only to concede a second just before the break to Didier Drogba.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men simply crumbled in the second-half as Chelsea grabbed the game by its neck and twisted it until all life had been sucked out of the visitors.

Frank Lampard, two more from Drogba and a second Malouda strike sealed Albion’s demise.

Yet Albion looked positive early on. Roman Bednar, charged with the thankless task of holding up play at the top, started a third minute move which enabled James Morrison to unleash a shot from long-range. The Scotland international snatched his shot, sending it wide.

Yet the Baggies found themselves behind after just six minutes. Pablo Ibanez brought Malouda’s run to an abrupt end with a brutal challenge just outside the penalty are.

Drogba’s free-kick was parried clumsily by Carson, who allowed the ball to drop back into play. Mikel reacted quickly, playing the ball straight to Malouda who had the easiest of chances from close range.

Petr Cech had a moment of his own five mintues later. Dorrans slammed a low shot goalbound which the Chelsea goalkeeper appeared to react slowly to – but he managed to keep it out all the same, tipping it wide for the Baggies’ first corner.

Roman Bednar did stick the ball in the net on 19 minutes but he was fractionally offside as he nipped past the Chelsea backline.

Albion were passing the ball around well in the final third with the only criticism being perhaps the lack of finesse and movement. The goalkeeping error simply highlighted that fact that Albion were worthy of parity for most of the first-half.

Passing got better, confidence improved and, on the left, Jerome Thomas appeared to have the beating of Paulo Ferreira.

But, even so, it needed Jara to come to Albion’s rescue when Frank Lampard flicked a ball into Malouda’s path. As the Chelsea man ran forward, Jara nipped in to clear.

Chelsea finished the first half strongly and were unfortunate to not go two up when Tamas brought down Drogba about 25-yards from goal. Lampard’s free-kick was beaten away by Carson with Malouda again being quickest to react with the rebound. This time his effort flew over.

There was no such joy during first-half injury time. Yet again Albion’s backline conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area, this time Tamas being the culprit.

Drogba succeeded where Lampard had failed by tucking a low free-kick just inside Carson’s left-hand post.

Albion’s issues were summed up within the third minute of the second-half. Dorrans and Cech linked up well to release Bednar. The Czech striker had his back to goal but no options to choose from, with his half-baked pass being easily mopped up by Chelsea’s backline.

Thomas released Dorrans in the 52nd minute after, once again, being given way too much room by the under-performing Ferreira. Dorrans’ shot was wayward but touched Bednar and flew just wide.

Dorrans then went close again with a free-kick pinged just over Cech’s goal.

Yet Albion’s dominance was undone within a minute. Malouda’s corner was headed goalbound by John Terry, Youssouf Mulumbu knocked the ball off the line but straight at Brunt. The rebound bobbled into Drogba’s path, allowing the Ivory Coast man to drill an unstoppable shot from close range.

Frank Lampard completed the rout in the 62nd minute when he struck a low shot past Carson after Albion’s backline was picked apart way too easily.

Roberto Di Matteo made his first changes by bringing on Ishmael Miller and Simon Cox for Dorrans and Bednar.

Within moments it was five with Drogba completing his hat-trick when he struck a powerful shot, which hit Tamas on the head and sent Carson the wrong way.

There was still time for one last chance from Albion. Miller released Cech, who cut the ball back in for Brunt. His shot struck a Chelsea player and sailed over. Chelsea though simply pinched another, Malouda rounding Carson to strike the final blow.